Rajasthan Royals‘ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has been named among Ravi Shastri’s four breakout stars of IPL 2025, with the former India head coach praising the 14-year-old’s fearless approach at the crease.
Speaking on The ICC Review with Sanjana Ganesan, Shastri highlighted Vaibhav’s debut heroics and said his performance “took everyone’s breath away.” He was listed alongside Ayush Mhatre (Chennai Super Kings) and Punjab Kings’ opening duo Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh as emerging talents who can go far in their careers.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi earns praise from Ravi Shastri
Vaibhav has taken the 2025 IPL by storm with his bold and aggressive batting style. In his debut match against Lucknow Super Giants, the left-hander smashed a six off the very first ball he faced as an Impact Player, replacing the injured Sanju Samson.
“I think the first shot he played, that would have taken everyone’s breath away,” Shastri said, clearly impressed by the teenager’s composure under pressure.
Shastri warns bowlers will come hard
While Vaibhav’s fearless start has gained applause, Shastri warned of tougher challenges ahead: “When you tonk someone’s first ball for six, then you’re shown no mercy. You don’t care whether he’s 14 or 12 or 20 years old.”
“The menu is the same that you dish out. He’ll have to get used to that and once we see him handling that, then you can make a proper judgment,” Shastri added.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s IPL 2025 performances so far
- Debut vs Lucknow Super Giants: 34 off 20 balls, 3 sixes, 2 fours
- 2nd match vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 16 off 12 balls, 2 sixes
In just two matches, Vaibhav has shown glimpses of elite-level confidence and shot-making, underlining his potential as a future star in Indian cricket.
Next match: Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans
Vaibhav is expected to feature in Rajasthan Royals’ next fixture against Gujarat Titans on Monday. All eyes will be on how he adapts as bowlers adjust their plans to his fearless approach.
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